*free pattern friday*, why not, right??

MINI MITTS

i have been making these mini mitts since last christmas, but for some reason never set up a pattern for them.

well, after modifying the pattern this christmas to include a larger size, i decided the time has come...

please enjoy & let me know if there is any part of the pattern that could use a bit of tweaking/rewording, etc...

 mini mitts

(click on title for ravelry link ;)

sizes available:

small, fits ages 2-5 years +/-

large, fits ages 6-9 years +/-

*notes for size large are in parenthesis*

materials needed:

worsted weight yarn of you choosing,

(40-80 yds)

us #6  dpn needles (for small)

us #7 dpn  needles (for large)

2 place markers & a tapestry needle for weaving in ends

abbreviations:

kfb, knit front & back of stitch

pm, place marker

*******

using long tail cast on, cast on 28 sts, both sizes

divide on to needles as follows:

8 sts on needles #1 & 3, 12 sts on needles #2

join for knitting in the round

begin knitting in k2p2 ribbing for 1.5" (2")

switch to stockinette & knit for 1" (1.5")

begin increases for thumb:

round 1: k2, kfb, pm, knit to last 3 sts, pm, kfb, k2 (30 sts)

round 2: knit plain

repeat these two rows 3x (4x), 36 sts (38sts), ending with an inc round

next round, knit around plain to 2nd pm, remove marker, k3 sts, BO next 8 (10) sts (28 sts)

knit to end of rnd

knit in k2, p2 ribbing for 1" (1.5")

BO all sts in ribbing.

weave in ends & gift to a  toddler/child who you adore!!

happy knitting loves, xo

a bit of christmas gifting...

i promised grandma that we would post lots pf photos of the children opening their gifts, as she & grandpa terry couldn't be here to celebrate with us...

i also want to share photos of the christmas sweaters that i knit for the children this year...

so, without further ado...;)

the older two each got a digital camera & have been on a dueling photo battle ever since! 

aydin, our resident inventor, got a snap rover.  a super cool snap, together way to create all sorts of cool gadgets!

a new raincoat for ev...

this color looks amazing on her (i think ;)

oh & here is my sister samantha (aka sk), who was recently reunited with a lost soul from her past...

black kitty! 

there is a long story behind this one, but basically this was her favorite stuffed animal when she was little, you know the one that we each had & would take everywhere with us??

one day she disappeared, never to be heard from again, until christmas eve. :)

knit lovelies from aunt sk & mama...

sk made each of the littles a lyon hat, which they love!  perhaps even moreso because they *match* (these two are very much into being twins right now, donning the same accessories, etc...very cute!)

ehren's "thing one" sweater... it fits him perfectly!!

ev's "evalinda" (aka nova), also a perfect fit! ;)

close up of ehren's "rainbow high five hat"...

& one of ev's "aphrodite's helm"...

a super cute christmas dress for ev...

a solar powered race car for bean bean...

'fruit fly' (aka butterfly) wings for ev...

i got papa a pair of bogs as i had caught him swiping mine, pink/purple paisleys & all... ;)

& lastly orin, hamming...ahem, i mean 'modeling' his military cardigan...

i still am unsure about the colors, but man is he absolutely LOVING this sweater!! 

he has worn it pretty much non-stop since opening is on christmas eve.

also, overheard him telling a friend about it..."my mom made this sweater, she made it..."  i am LOVIN' it!!

i will add a few more photos @ some point this week.  still have a few more lovelies to share, one of which is aydin's "black dragon' sweater. ;)

until then...happy holiday!!

snowflakes, stockings, a chicken & gingerbread...

honestly, paper snowflakes are addictive, agreed??

we began by making some to hang on our windows, but have now moved on to using them on our holiday cards & even our cookie canisters...

(photos of those to come later ;)

the boys pointed out that evyn didn't have a stocking of her own.  she has, until now, shared with mama & papa.  as she is 2 this year, we decided that she has graduated to having her own...

this was super easy/quick & turned out beautifully, if i do say so myself...

she chose the base fabric (a felted sweater from my stash) & then i used one of our other stocking for a template.  even with the stripes. it seemed a bit plain.  i was wanting something just a wee bit more,   so i added a few concentric circles, sewn on with buttons...perfect! 

& the verdict??...she loves it!

an early christmas present from aydin...

a lego chicken...i LOVE it!

is there anything this boy can't build?? he constantly amazes me!!

our  friends came over the tuesday before christmas & we made gingerbread houses from scratch!!  these were our first ever, aside from a few that we have made in the past from kits.

 they were amazingly east to make, & muy delicioso to boot... :)

even with all the candy 'glued on', they seemed a bit plain.  so...we cut out cardboard 'selves' & placed them around the house.  perfect!!  above, you can see a wee little ehren on the toboggan that orin & aydin crafted, & a plump santa on the left...

 here is aydin, making snow angels on the gingerbread roof...

 a close up of ehren on the toboggan...

 mama & papa (in teddy bear pajamas, aydin's idea) on the rooftop...

 orin, in his ninja gear...

& a wee little evelet on the peeping around the corner...

happy holidays to each & everyone one of you!!  xo

our sweet beaner beans; *5* times around the sun...

this past saturday, we celebrated bean bean's 5th birthday!

the day began with the biggest stack of french toast the world has ever seen...

 and, of course, the birthday boy!!

 and a birthday breakfast of his choosing... french toast, with blueberries & cream, & sausage links. ;)

 knit gifts from mama, including a new pair of duds for master rudolph...

 & it turns out that the marshall holiday parade fell on ehren's birthday as well.  what a *special day* !

 i LOVE madison county...

 where else would semis & 4 wheelers be in a christmas parade??  i LOVE living here!!

 ev got loves & hugs from sparky the fireman dog...

 my favorite part of the parade???  easy...

 i LOVE it!!

the littles, with their littles...;)

side note, check out the wool pea coat i scored for ehren @ the clearance center.  mama is TOTALLY jealous!!

ah, yes...ehren's favorite rainbow cake in the making...

gorgeous & magical, though not made from scratch...but hey, this is a special day & who doesn't LOVE rainbows??

so, get a white cake mix, follow direction on box.  then divide batter evenly into 6 bowls & add food coloring until desired colors are achieved....

 in 2, round cake pans, layer the batter from bottom up.  so, pan one would have violet on the bottom, followed by blue & green on top.  pan 2 would have yellow, orange & then red on top. 

bake according to directions on box.

 orin found a tub of frosting that had a bonus of rainbow sprinkles...perfect, right??

 time to blow out the candles & make a wish...

the just desserts...  (get it??  punny, right?? ;)